Two people dead in Twiggs County car crash

Two people died from injuries sustained in a single-vehicle crash Saturday night on Interstate 16 near the Bibb and Twiggs county line, according to the Georgia State Patrol.

The victims were identified as passengers Brandy Pratt, 34, and Jamie Smith, 39, both of Pooler. Pratt was pronounced dead on the scene, while Smith was pronounced at the Medical Center, Navicent Health, said GSP Trooper Chad Harrison.

Driver Shannon Gunn, 38, of Macon, was taken to the Medical Center, Navicent Health, with severe injuries, Harrison said. She remained hospitalized Sunday in the Surgical Trauma Intensive Care Unit.

Gunn and Smith, who were not wearing seat belts, were ejected from the 2005 Lexus ES 333, Harrison said. Pratt was wearing a safety belt, he said.

Gunn was driving west when her car exited the roadway and struck a tree at Mile Marker 10 in Twiggs County, Harrison said.

The crash, which was reported to Twiggs County authorities at 7:04 p.m., remains under investigation.

To contact writer Becky Purser, call 256-9559, or find her on Twitter@becpurser.

This story was originally published January 3, 2016 at 5:08 PM with the headline "Two people dead in Twiggs County car crash ."